A Study to Assess the Sustainability and Quality of Village Savings and Loans Groups (VSLGs)

Abstract

The first phase of the Chars Livelihoods Programme (CLP) worked to eradicate extreme poverty and improve the livelihoods of the extreme poor living on erosion-prone island chars in the Jamuna River. The end of CLP-1 in March 2010 and the commencement of the second phase (CLP-2) in April 2011 provide the opportunity to assess whether CLP-1 activities have continued without CLP support and explore issues which could influence programme design of CLP-2. This report assesses CLP’s Village Savings and Loans (VSL) project, which offers the poorest with access to credit through collective savings groups, whilst simultaneously providing ‘a safe place to save’. The VSL project aims to reduce the vulnerability of the extreme poor who lack the capital to cope with shocks such as illness, flooding and seasonal hunger (monga) and offers an alternative to informal money lenders.

Citation

McIvor, N.; Hussain, A. A Study to Assess the Sustainability and Quality of Village Savings and Loans Groups (VSLGs). (2012) 40 pp.